Bar Keepers Friend Powder Cleanser, 12 oz x 2, Multipurpose Cleaner, Degreaser & Remover for Burnt Stainless Steel Pots and Pans, Rust Stains, Hard Water Deposits & Soap Scum

I’ve relied on various cleansers for my home maintenance, but this formulation remains the gold standard for restoring surfaces that standard dish soap cannot touch. As a frequent reviewer of high-end cookware and household appliances, I tested this specifically on a stainless steel sauté pan with significant heat tint and a porcelain sink plagued by hard water minerals. ​The non-bleach, oxalic acid-based formula is the standout feature here. Unlike gritty scouring powders that can compromise the finish of polished metals, this provides a deep clean through chemical action rather than heavy abrasion. It effectively dissolved baked-on carbon and removed oxidized "rainbow" stains from my stainless steel with minimal physical effort. ​In the bathroom, it cut through calcified soap scum on my fixtures that had resisted traditional spray cleaners. The texture is fine enough that I didn't worry about micro-scratching my surfaces. For anyone managing a household with hard water issues or high-use stainless steel, this is an essential tool for maintaining a "like-new" appearance. It is a high-value staple that performs consistently across multiple surfaces.

I decided to test this cleanser on three different items in my house: ​1. The Kitchen Sink (Stainless Steel): Nothing extraordinary here. It cleaned well and added a nice shine, but it didn't do anything for the scratches (my sink is quite old). Honestly, regular baking soda gives me a similar result for a basic clean. ​2. The Frying Pan (Grease/Burnt-on). It removed the greasy buildup much faster than baking soda. I didn't have to scrub for ages — one round of cleaning and the pan was spotless. It definitely saves time. ​3. The Bathroom Holder (Rust): This is where the magic happened! My bathroom holder was covered in rust spots. Baking soda doesn't even come close here. For rust removal, this is a 10/10. ​Pros & My Tips for Use: ​Kid-friendly: There is no harsh chemical smell, which is a huge plus since I can use it while my toddler is at home. ​The "Paste" Method: Don't use it dry, but don't drown it in water either. Add just enough water to make a thick paste (slurry). That’s whn it works best! ​Protect your hands: using gloves. ​Happy cleaning! Update April 9, 2026: ​ I’ve decided to test this cleanser on new surfaces. Here are the updated results: ​Shower Glass. To be honest, it was harder to take a photo of the glass door than to get the result from the product. It handled hard water stains perfectly. I checked the label and found the Oxalic Acid - that’s the secret. It doesn't just scrub, it dissolves the mineral buildup. No long scrubbing required! ​Toddler's Sneakers. I saw others using this for white soles and decided to verify. The result is fantastic. The fine abrasive in the powder works wonders. It cleaned my toddle’s rubber soles perfectly without damaging or fraying them. ​Надеюсь, мой разбор был полезен! (Hope this was helpful! Happy shopping!)

Absolutely best cleaner for stainless steel pots, pan and sink. Gets all the gunk off. No scratching but definitely gets things shiny and new looking with hardly any elbow grease.

I had those yellow iron stains in my bathtub. asked chatgpt what to do. it literally told me to buy this and so i did, made a paste w it in my tub, let it sit for a minute and scrubbed and it instantly went away. Didn't try it on anything else yet but it did clear that yellow iron stain in my bathtub immediately.

Didn't really do anything to the ring stain in the toilet. Worked pretty good on the rest of bathroom. Just quite not strong enough to eliminate real tough stains. still worth a buy for minor clean ups

Works great on our tile countertops and porcelain sink! Removes stains/blotches, etc and leaves a clean shine!!

This is the best way to keep your pans shiny without scratching the finish. I use it to get hard water scale from the granite around the faucet, again surfaces weren’t scratched. This stuff is great, just buy some!

This has become a staple in my cleaning routine. Used it on a stainless steel pan with burnt residue, my glass top black stove, and the stainless steel exterior of my fridge. it performed well on all three. The stove in particular came out looking better than it has in years. A little goes a long way and it doesn't take much scrubbing. One important note: the label warns against using it on plastic surfaces, so keep that in mind. Hard to argue with results this consistent across that many surfaces.